Improvement in hat-racks



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPRovEME'NT IN HAT-RAcKs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,032, dated February 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, NICHOLAS CLARKE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Hat-Tree; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawinvention being particularly designed to be fastened to the face of a wall instead of forming part of a stand resting, or designed to rest, upon the iioor of a hall.

In my invention I make use of a main or center stationary piece, having extending from it a series of arms, each jointed to the main piece at its inner end and swinging upon its pivot-pin. From the front of each arm, near its upper or outer end, extends a hat-supporting peg, thearni being spread to bring the pins in position, and being sustained inproper position by suitable connecting-chains or by suitable stops. When the arms are thus spread the respective pins have ample room for receiving and holding hats or other articles, while when closed they compact vtogether and occupy but little space. y

The invention consists in ,the construction thus generally described.

The drawing represents in front elevation and in edge view a hat tree or frame embodying my invention.

a denotes the stationary main or center piece, which is to be fastened or hung against the vertical wall of the hall or other rooign. This center-piece may be provided with a socket-recess or hole,b, for receiving a mirror, and may have pegs o arranged as shown, or in any other suitable manner. At the top of the piece a is a surmounting molding or headpiece, d, in which is a socket, having extending into it the inner ends of the arms c.

I have spoken of all of these arms as movable; but a center-arm, f, is preferably stationary, While each of the arms c is pivoted in the socket by a pin, g. Upon its pin g each arm vcan swing; and when all are swung outward from the arm j'they occupy the positions shown at Figure 1, in which positions they may be held and supported by chains h, or by suitable stops. This is the position they hold to best adapt their pegs z' for holding hats, &c. When not hung against a wall the arms are swung together, as denoted (for one side of the tree) by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The tree thus made is very convenient, is very much stronger than such a tree would be if the arms were framed into it, and as to cost of construction is very inexpensive.

The stationary piece a may stand upon a support designed especially for it 5 but I prefer to hang it against the wall, as described.

I claim- The hat-tree, made with the arms e pivoted to the head and center piece a, and arranged substantially as shown and described.

N. CLARKE.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM. 

